The Horasis Asia Meeting 2018 will bring together over 400 of the foremost leaders from across Asia along with 200 CEOs of top FDI companies in Vietnam and governors. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the rest of Asia are increasingly interconnected, creating a host of new opportunities by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. Having just celebrated 50 years of deepening unity and rising wealth, the 10 nations of ASEAN are poised to craft a compelling vision for its future generations in a connected age. Vietnam – the Horasis Asia Meeting’s host country – is ASEAN’s rising star, approaching 7% economic growth in 2018 and the years to come.

Programme

November 25, 2018

Registration

Time: 12.30 - 25 November 2018

Location: Binh Duong Convention Center.

Upholding Diversity and Inclusiveness

Content: Language helps define a culture, and across Asia there is a rich diversity. With that come strong cultural norms, especially concerning our minorities’ place in society. How may we raise our tolerance towards differences increasing inclusiveness?

Time: 14.00-15.30 - 25 November 2018

Location: Room G1, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by Lou Marinoff, Professor of Philosophy, The City College of New York, USA

Envisioning Asia’s Digital Economy

Content: The ways in which Asian citizens connect with others is being transformed through digital technologies. How to embrace technological disruption? And how to shape systems to permit a wide-spread open navigation of digitized Asian economies?

Investing in Asia

Content: Stability leads to investor confidence but Asia is characterized by varying volatility that may puzzle investors. How best to stimulate the investment climate? Where are the regional hot-spots? What are the trends?

Weighing Asian Models of Governance

Content: Political and economic developments in the West are causing politicians to question established models of governance. Beneath Asia’s abundant diversity, there are also common patterns that underpin political and economic development. What blended models of governance are emerging in Asia?

Time: 14.00-15.30 - 25 November 2018

Location: Room G4, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by John West, Executive Director, Asian Century Institute, Australia

Ensuring Inclusive Growth

Content: Economic growth has to go along with an equally high rate of poverty reduction. Poverty reduction varies across Asian nations compared with their stellar performance. Which economic development model best allows inclusive growth? Which mixed models might be better? What might the future contain?

Contact Break

Time: 15.30-16.00 25 November 2018

Location: Binh Duong Convention Center.

The Future of Asian Geopolitics

Content: This populous region involves potential antagonisms. How can these be faced, understood and acknowledged so derive a better future for all? What are the major issues? How can business influences overcome geopolitical tensions?

Asia’s Leadership Agenda

Content: Economic prosperity and social cohesion are not one and the same any more. What can leaders do to bridge the growing political, economic, social and technological divides? And what does it take to be a responsible and effective leader in both business and society?

Time: 16.00-17.30 - 25 November 2018

Location: Room G2, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by Richard Hames, Founder and Chairman, Centre for the Future, Australia

Repositioning Regional Trade

Content: In 2017 the US administration announced its withdrawal from the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). What are the Asian nations’ strategic modes for regional trade accords? How to build an integrated Asian region where goods, services, and ideas can freely cross borders to the benefit of all?

Impact Investing: The Asian Approach

Content: There is a spectrum of opportunities for investors in Asia with varying levels of risk, magnitude of financial return and potential for impact. How to generate sustained and blended value? And how can traditional philanthropy, governments and returns-based funds work together to build a pipeline of opportunity?

Asian Industry: Towards Smart Manufacturing

Content: With newly emerging technological, regulatory and economic realities, Asia’s manufacturing systems are transforming. How can smart manufacturig help boost productivity growth and living standards over the long term? How to shape national policies to spur economic growth? And in what sectors?

Welcome Reception

Content: Horasis welcomes participants to celebrate the third Horasis Asia Meeting. Participants will enjoy a prodigious reception at the Binh Duong Convention Center.

Time: 17.30-18.30 - 25 November 2018

Location: Foyer, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by Frank-Jürgen Richter, Chairman, Horasis, Switzerland

Opening Plenary: Asia’s Dynamism

Content: Nations across Asia are joining together politically and through trade. A new dynamism is yielding increasing prosperity and stability. What might its future be? Can diversity and cultural identities be maintained whilst aspiring to unity?

- Supachai Panitchpakdi, Former Secretary-General, UN Conference on Trade and Development UNCTAD), Thailand

Walk to the Becamex Hotel

Time: 19.30 - 25 November 2018

Location: the Becamex Hotel is located opposite the Convention Center

Welcome Dinner: Resurgent Vietnam

Content: Vietnam has opened its economy to bolster its position within ASEAN to compete further in the digital economy. Its strong economic indicators suggest it can hold a key position in Asian resurgence. What is its future roadmap?

Time: 19.30-22.00 - 25 November 2018

Location: Becamex Hotel

Chaired by Frank-Jürgen Richter, Chairman, Horasis, Switzerland

Participant:

- Tran Van Nam, Party Secretary, Binh Duong, Vietnam

November 26, 2018

Registration

Time: from 7.00 - 26 November 2018

Location: Binh Duong Convention Center.

Empowering Youthquake

Content: Many Asian nations have a youthful demographic profile, which promises a robust embrace of digitisation, political and social change. How can we ensure all contribute fully, creating personal and business success? What are the enablers of their Dream? What pitfalls are to be avoided?

Action on Climate Change is Crucial

Content: Low-lying lands are flood prone: island people and those in populous nations are at risk when the sea level rises. What are Asia’s plans? Who will offer homes for at-risk people? What impedes humanitarian decision making?

Re-igniting Micro-entrepreneurship

Content: Microfinance organisations and community development banks created a new wave of entrepreneurship across Asia. How effective is microfinance in reducing poverty? And how can microfinance build bridges to economic growth? Will new AI developments help its progress?

- James Mendoza, President and Chief Executive Officer, MaroonStudios, The Philippines

- Masato Wada, Chief Executive Officer, J Platform, Japan

Asia’s Future of Work

Content: Automation and changing business models based on virtual and networked employment across Asia will potentially lead to larger income disparities and social division. How to cope with the disruption of traditional employment models?

The Deep Benefits of Sport

Content: The social and inter-personal benefits of sport counteract nihilism: billions play for real as well as digitally, assisting local and international communications. How can Asian players benefit their own communities and the wider world to help business and governments reduce global ills?

Dynamic Vietnam - Its New Visions

Content: Since it reformed after 1986 Vietnam has surged forward with strong GDP growth, approaching 7% in 2018. What are the government’s priorities and policies, both at the national and state level? What does this imply for investors and trading partners?

The Economic Outlook

Content: The global economic outlook for 2019 is more certain given Asia's continued buoyancy. What is the current state of the regional and global economy? What does the changing nature of the global economy mean for Asian business? And, conversely, what is Asia’s impact on global growth?

Contact Break

Time: 10.45-11.00 - 26 November 2018

Location: Binh Duong Convention Center.

Repaving the Ancient Silk Route

Content: China is actively developing its new Silk Road – a beltway of roads and rail connecting development hubs. Some routes traverse fragile eco-systems, others interact with multi-ethic groups. How to maintain sustainability while developing growth potentials? How can potential resistance be overcome?

Accelerating Entrepreneurship in Asia

Content: Asian entrepreneurs can rebuild the vitality of businesses and institutions to sustain national life-forces and economic growth. How to spur this renaissance of entrepreneurs and innovators? And how to create an environment that makes entrepreneurship inclusive, maximizing its benefits to society?

Advancing Asian Regional Integration

Content: Many of the region’s nations are inter-connecting their road, rail infrastructures to boost prosperity within the Asian Economic Community Blueprint. Will these changes overcome historical antipathies and distrust? Could a Schengen-like free movement of goods, capital, services and people follow? What are the critical factors?

Moving to Venture Capital, Corporate Investments and Crowdfunding

Content: Across Asia venture capitalists are developing a foothold as governments open up their banking sectors. How to ensure that innovative firms have easier access to finance at an early stage of development?

Anchoring Local Brands within Global Commerce

Content: A brand promises more than just a quality local product - it expresses homeliness. What defines a strong brand? How do brands carry their image across national and cultural boundaries? What Asian brands are trending? Why, and how?

Re-developing the Agro-business

Content: As populations continue to increase and concentrate in cities new opportunities across Asia are opened up for changes in the agro-businesses. It is vital to enhance the food chains to reduce wastage and at point-of-sale to support ecological vending. What forms of regulation are needed to allow large-scale farming ie massive digitised machines instead of homesteads? What of the displaced labour?

Networking Lunch

Plenary: ASEAN and the New Asian Regional Groups

Content: ASEAN has been a calming influence for 50+ years; new groups are emerging – with a stronger business orientation. What are the broad consequences of these developments? What might this mean for Asia, Europe and global business?

Development of Inclusive Banking Services across Asia

Content: How is Asia managing its mix of religious and secular attitudes to banking in the age of FinTech? What are the propositions Asian banking systems bring to its massive population with its diverse beliefs? Will its model be exportable to the global system?

Enhancing Critical Education

Content: New education perspectives should support critical thinking and pride in local and national identity even while encouraging regional integration. What needs to be done to reorient Asia’s educational institutions towards greater innovation? And how can diversity pinch-points be eased to support stronger understanding of Maths, Science and Technology?

- Irene R. de Villa, College Dean, University of Batangas, The Philippines

- Jim Yuan, Co-founder, Joyview Education, China

Reducing Asia's Gender Gap

Content: Globally the gender gap is closing but not in Asia: and large gender gaps imply slow economic growth. What can be done to promote greater female participation? What strategies may boost women in business, government and civil society to tap Asia’s female talent?

Growth of Family Businesses across Asia

Content: Big family run businesses will double by 2025 and most will be in South-East Asia. What are the enduring characteristics of these family firms? How does a talented entrepreneur nurture heirs? What is needed to maintain the firm’s vigour while absorbing disruptive technologies?

Time: 15.00-16.30 - 26 November 2018

Location: Room G4, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by Philip Bowring, International Columnist, Hong Kong SAR

Participant:

- Sang Yeon Hwang, Co-Founder, Heartisans, Hong Kong SAR

- Phong Nguyen, Chairman, OPV Pharmaceutical, Vietnam

- Tristram Norriss, Chairman, Timoran Capital, Hong Kong SAR

- Huong Wolf, Founder, Quillingcard, USA

Deep Learning: A New framework for Asian Business

Content: Deep Learning (the combination of AI and machine learning) is reducing human intervention across many industrial, commercial, scientific and service sectors. How can we judge the results of these systems? And how can deep learning frameworks give Asian firms a starting advantage?

The 4th Industrial Revolution: Envisioning the Next Dimension

Content: With newly emerging technological, regulatory and economic realities, Asia’s manufacturing systems are transforming with AI and incorporating the IoT. How can smart manufacturig help boost productivity growth and living standards over the long term? How to shape national policies to spur economic growth? And in what sectors?

Investment Opportunities in Binh Duong

Content: Representatives of Binh Duong Province the corporate sectors will present investment opportunities in the area of smart city development, manufacturing, infrastructure and ITC.

Time: 15.00-16.30 - 26 November 2018

Location: Room G7, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Contact Break

Time: 16.30-17.30 - 26 November 2018

Location: Binh Duong Convention Center.

Technology as Disruptor and Aggregator

Content: A diverse range of breakthrough technologies could soon be playing a role in tackling Asia’s most pressing challenges. How can business leaders leverage technology to achieve shared goals? And what models of public and corporate collaborations are needed to allow innovation to build a shared future?

Taking a Refined Focus on Growth

Content: Discussions about growth often overlook fine detail. Which development sectors are most important in Asia – agriculture, education, health, manufacturing or the service industries? What are the focal points that will raise Asian well-being?

Nurturing Asian Tourism Infrastructure

Content: New integrated transportation systems are being built to facilitate tourism: it’s one of the globe’s new middle-class growth industries. What new models can integrate related industries? How shall multi-centre and multi-country tourism be promoted which also protect fragile eco-systems?

Time: 17.00-18.30 - 26 November 2018

Location: Room G3, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by Lawrence Pratchett, Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Canberra, Australia

Reappraising Decision-making Styles

Content: Globalisation draws together managers from different nations having diverse management styles which may trigger conflicts and errors. How easy is it to understand the other person’s fundamental mind-set of achievement, affiliation and power? What solutions may increase Asia’s enduring performance?

Smart Cities – Driving Asian Cities Sustainable Growth

Content: Despite a huge wave of people moving to its cities in the last decade, Asia’s urbanization may only be just the beginning of huge social, economic and environmental transformations. How can smart cities with different designs drive sustainable growth?

Envisioning New Business Models

Content: With Asia emerging as a dominant global force new business models need to be created embracing local cultures, but not rejecting global norms. Frome where will their architecture be drawn? Who will drive the change? How quickly can the business school alter their curricula?

Time: 17.00-18.30 - 26 November 2018

Location: Room G6, Binh Duong Convention Center.

Chaired by John B. Kidd, Research Fellow, Aston Business School, United Kingdom

Navigating in the Digital Tide with Multicultural Talents

Content: Disruptive tech startups in Asia grow and expand rapidly, but yet face tremendous amount of competitions regardless countries and boundaries. How to stay ahead from the competitors by applying different strategies in various Asian markets? And how to maintain and operate with multicultural talent team on the ground?

Closing Plenary: Realizing the Asian Century

Content: Asian nations are developing new strategies and partnerships to lift equitable growth. How will ASEAN and its North and South Asian partner countries support regional unity and global development – to make the Asian century happen?

Walk to the Becamex Hotel

Time: 19.30 - 26 November 2018

Location: The Becamex Hotel is located opposite the Convention Center

Closing Dinner: Raising an Asian Vision

Content: Asian nations are characterised by their developmental stages. Vietnam shows how a nation can grow – its cooperative models are proposed to others to support the growth of an Asian vision. How to advance a shared vision of prosperity and piece?

Truong Gia Binh, Chairman, FPT Corporation, Vietnam

Wang Dong, Secretary General, The Pangoal Institution, China

Bryan Yang, Chief Executive Officer, Inspiration Inc., China

Co-organizers:

All India Management Association (AIMA)

National One-Stop Service and Investment Organization (NSO)

Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC)

Young Presidents' Organization (YPO)

Knowledge Partners:

Asia News Network (ANN)

Eastern International University (EIU)

IE Business School

The Straits Times

Location

Binh Duong New City is conveniently located 45min from Ho Chi Minh City Airport and – as Vietnam’s emerging gateway for technology, trade and services – is well positioned to serve as commercial hub for the ASEAN economies.